60 Must-Read Health, Fitness, and Happiness Blogs for 2015

60 Must-Read Health, Fitness, and Happiness Blogs for 2015

Anyone—even a dog—can write a blog. Which perhaps explains why there are so many out there, all tempting us to procrastinate at work. But it’s hard to know which sites are truly trustworthy, entertaining, informative, and/or offer the best (healthy) food porn.

[article-suggestion:4688]We know your time is valuable, so we went ahead and scoured the blogosphere for you to narrow it down to these 60 standouts. They’re keeping it real (no instant six-pack abs, you know?), using science to back up their claims, always staying positive and inspiring, and delivering content we can’t stop reading and sharing ourselves.

When searching the Web, we went after blogs that address interesting and timely issues and feature useful, upbeat (but never in an annoying way) posts that reflectGreatist’s mission of making healthy living a little bit easier and a lot more fun. We then checked out their frequency of posts, comments and engagement with readers, number of social media followers, and design quality to narrow down the list to these rock stars.

Spend just a few minutes on the self-declared “women’s fitness authority,” and you’ll see why the description is totally appropriate. No three-pound dumbbells here—Girls Gone Strong features workout tips for women who are into legit strength training. Whether your goal is to lose fat, gain muscle, or just reinvigorate your workout routine, you’ll find all the advice, encouragement, and support you need here. We also love reading the profiles of kick-ass women who are killing it in their athletic endeavors—like an inspiring triathlete or a personal-trainer-slash-naturopathic-doctor.

Blogger, personal trainer, and all-around badass Neghar Fonooni serves up equal parts fitness and nutrition tips and positive, empowering thoughts on self-love and self-acceptance on Eat, Lift, and Be Happy. (Case in point: Her inspiring blog post in honor of her muscular legs, titled “Confessions of a Quadzilla,” went viral.) While she doesn’t post as often as we’d like, when she does, it’s always a great workout or advice on loving your bodythat you can’t help but share with all your friends (or “friends”).

These days, we like to think that doing anything “like a girl” is not even close to an insult. Fortunately, blogger Nia Shanks is here to reinforce that female-friendly weight lifting is anything but girly. On Lift Like a Girl, she empowers women of all sizes and from all backgrounds to start strength training with in-depth, detailed posts on topics like lifting (really) heavy weights, reasons why allwomen should strength train, and techniques for busting through plateaus. She also speaks candidly about recovering from bulimia and binge eating disorder.

What do The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix have to do with weight loss and exercise science? Nerd Fitness can tell you! The comic book-esque design and images of superheroes will draw you in, but blogger Steve Kamb’s down-to-earth takes on topics like building muscle (not bulk), trying smarter (rather than trying harder), and putting fitness first will keep you there. Whether you’re really into gaming or you don’t know the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek, this blog delivers practical knowledge about exercise and nutrition to help you go from beginner to advanced in no time.

It’s tempting to think fitness professionals—with their sculpted shoulders and superhuman endurance—aren’t “real” people. At Remodel Fitness, personal trainer Jessi Kneeland proves that she’s very much a “real” person, complete with self-doubt and insecurities. After learning to appreciate her strong yet feminine body, curves and all, she’s now on a mission to “save women from their own negative body image.” You’ll love her funny, well-written, and totally relatable posts about learning to love your body, feeling your best, and getting that little voice in your head (you know the one) to shut up.

If you’re more into saying “om” than counting reps, this blog is for you. YogaDork’s network of contributors report on all things yoga, from new research to thehealth benefits of yoga and meditation, with plenty of easy-to-read infographics, humorous posts, and instructional videos thrown in for good measure. It doesn’t matter whether you balance in tree pose while brushing your teeth or if you’re just beginning your yoga practice, YogaDork will welcome you with open arms—er, heart. Namaste.

Some like it hot, and editor-in-chief John Romaniello, a.k.a. “Roman,” definitely likes his fitness writing spicy. With a mix of science-backed workout tips, nutritious recipes, and a totally candid tone, Roman Fitness Systems features bluntly named blog posts like “Strength Matters, Ya Big Sissy” and “New Years Resolution: Get Drunk, Not Fat.” Need more convincing? Not only has Roman helped thousands of clients achieve their fitness goals, but he too went through a major transformation from overweight teen to fitness model and professional trainer.

Strength coach Tony Gentilcore (whose last name sounds like a fitness brand on its own) trains pro athletes and soccer moms alike (his words, not ours) in his Boston sports performance center. On his blog, he brings his love of heavy lifting to the masses through his smart, realistic, and encouraging posts on topics from how to do a proper bench press or the form tip that matters most when squatting. When you’ve had your fill of strength training tips, check out his weekly roundups of what he calls “stuff to read while you’re pretending to work.” (We won’t tell your boss.)

Motivating, funny, and totally relatable, U.K.-based FitBits follows the adventures of Tess Agnew, a former smoker and binge eater turned “fitness freak” and marathoner. If you’re all about finding a balancebetween HIIT classes, running, and good food (andwine), you’ll appreciate her witty writing on race recaps, training plans, restaurant reviews, and plentiful#foodporn posts. After reading about Agnew’s inspiring journey to regain her health, you can’t help but cheer along while she trains for her next impressive fitness endeavor.

What happens when you put a bunch of trainers, coaches, and fitness junkies in one room? This incredible blog (and then of course an awesome burpeecompetition). Breaking Muscle is your one-stop shop for fitness and nutrition news and advice. These bloggers dissect everything from what’s up with the government’s new recommendations for cholesterol to how the food we eat affects the way we run.

CrossFitters, rejoice! You don’t have to check dozens of sites to get the latest and greatest CrossFit workouts, tips, and inspiration. The editors at the Tabata Times work to put all of the best CrossFit content in one spot, from overcoming self-doubt in the box to the simple steps to keep WODs constantly varied (rather than random). That’s enough to make us swoon (or swole).

Jennipher Walters and Erin Whitehead, the brains behind Fit Bottomed Girls, are real women with busy lives who understand that exercise should be enjoyable, not torturous. And from the friendly voice to the feel-good tagline (“Fit bottoms come in all shapes and sizes”), this popular blog has a lighthearted and practical approach to fitness that we seriously dig. It’s a great combo of positivity, fun (workout song bracket anyone?),workouts, motivation, and more.

Anyone who loves running will relate to Amanda Brooks on Run to the Finish, and she may just convince running haters to change their minds. Addressing everything from dealing with injuries and preventing them in the future to why bad runs can be a good thing, this certified personal trainer’s posts are filled with the inspiration and motivation to stay focused and fulfill your goals.

Healthy Recipes

If you think raw food is the daunting domain of spiralizers and dehydrators, this blog will shift your thinking. Gena Hamshaw‘s recipes make raw cooking accessible, easy, and downright delicious—and she includes cooked meals too. Check out her cashew queso sauce or cacao truffles. As a certified nutritionist, Hamshaw brings lots of nutritional wisdom to the kitchen. She is also candid about being in recovery from an eating disorder and uses her site as a hub to draw together a community of men and women using a plant-based diet to heal their broken relationship. So come for the chia pudding and stay for the nutritional empowerment.

The grande dame of food blogs, Apartment Therapy’s cooking site The Kitchn continues to lead the pack. If you’re stumped on any home cooking subject, they’ve got you covered, whether that’s creating a smoothie drawer, what to do with all that tahini you bought to make hummus, or how to tell if chicken is cooked through. It’s like having a chef BFF you can text at all hours. And recipes aside, this site broke new ground when it published a series of articles discussing what it means to be a foodie concerned with weight loss, opening a conversation that was long overdue.

Raw banana bread balls, salted caramel tahini cups, no-bake pumpkin pie tarts—workout fuel has never looked so delish. Written by an avid triathlete and certified trainer, this blog covers nutritionally dense foods and fitness in a relatable way. Best of all, the author’s healthy eating philosophy is an open door: “There’s no right or wrong way to eat healthy… We’re all different with different nutritional requirements; however we all need to eat whole, nutritious foods. Start there.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

In some ways, Oh She Glows is like the ultimate love letter. Blogger Angela Liddon reclaimed her health by creating vegan recipes that are free of gluten and soy, but her creations also had to appeal to her husband, who at the time was “a devout fast-food lover” that “drank pop like water.” Her efforts—recipes like no-bake almond joy granola bars and sweet potato casserole—not only swayed her man, but a massive following of readers. It helps that the dishes are photographed so beautifully that we want to swan-dive directly into every plate.

Certain Paleo circles can be overrun with CrossFit dudes making terrible puns about “snatches,” so Juli Bauer’s decidedly feminine take comes as a breath of fresh air. Bauer raves about fashion finds as much as deadlift technique, proving this girl can beast with the best of them. But clothing and workouts aside, one of this blog’s biggest draws is the simple, straightforward Paleo recipes, like pulled pork frittatas and bison burgers. And unlike some Paleo peeps, Bauer isn’t opposed to a little dessert, whether that’s almond butter blondies or coffee cake.

This blog resembles the pages of a glossy food magazine with a fleet of food stylists making sure every bite looks impossibly scrumptious. But behind the scenes, it’s just the work of one couple, Sara and Hugh Forte. Their division of labor is simple: She cooks and blogs, he photographs. The result elevates whole food ingredients to poetic proportions. Pumpkin bread with walnut-cinnamon swirl, buttermilk berry crumb cake, and vegetarian Asian nuggets with tahini sauce have won several fans including Saveur magazine, which named Sprouted Kitchen one of the best blogs.

All kinds of gorgeous plant-based dishes, includingbircher muesli, almond butter cups, or cauliflower crust pizza, are turned out in Ella Woodward’s sunny U.K. kitchen. But not everything here is sunbeams and smoothies: This blog is the result of the author’s struggle with postural tachycardia syndrome, a rare and devastating disease that prompted her to revamp her diet and ditch processed foods. Part of her recovery is to embrace a self-care philosophy, whether that’s enjoying sweet potato brownies, doing yoga, or scribbling in a gratitude journal. It’s this holistic look at health that makes for a truly great read.

Unlike many food bloggers, Michelle Tam doesn’t post dolled-up selfies with every recipe. Instead, her pigtailed avatar appears all over the site giving helpful tips in speech bubbles, comic-book style. It’s a little aesthetic clue that Tam marches to the beat of her own Paleodrum. Another major difference is her degree in nutrition and food science, which, paired with her serious foodie know-how, have made her the Paleo point-person for various gourmand publications including Saveur,America’s Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, and The Kitchn. But credentials aside, all it takes in one look at her recipe for porkitos (a.k.a. cripsy prosciutto chips) to know you’re in good hands.

The name says it all: This blog is all about real food prepared with heart and soul. Vegan chef Jenné Claiborne’s recipes look so indulgent and appetizing, we believe her when she calls one cookie recipe “life-changing.” And video tutorials for dishes like buttermilk waffles will take the worry out of vegan tricks like subbing flaxseeds for eggs. Recipes aside, Claiborne does an amazing job covering all the ways her revamped diet has improved her life—from better digestion to thick, healthy hair—carrying the banner forward for plant-powered peeps.

Blogger Gina Homolka outlines a simple formula on her site: “Exercise + a well balanced diet + good sleep = a happy life.” And really, why complicate that? Her recipes for lasagna soup and gluten-free s’mores tartlets prove that eating a rainbow of whole foods is appealing to the eye, the palate, and the rest of your body too. Plus Homolka has a sense of humor and isn’t above trying recipes from the 50 Shades of Chicken cookbook.

After her father had a heart attack, Erin Alderson (her initials are E.L.L.A.) broke up with fast food and all processed meat stuff, turning to fresh, seasonalvegetarian food. But despite ditching Big Macs, Alderson doesn’t believe in being obsessive or counting calories. Her philosophy is simply to exercise and eat well. Given the result—beautifully photographed whole foods we want to gobble up immediately (cheesy BBQ loaded baked potatoes, we’re looking at you!)—it’s easy to see why her approach works.

Sure, the pictures are stunning and recipes look amazing (hello, ricotta pancakes with maple bourbon whipped cream). But what we actually love most about Domesticate Me is that the brains behind the bites, Serena Wolf, is just like us. The adventurous, food-loving, 20-something graduated college unsure of what to do next. After an airplane jump here and yoga stint there, Wolf landed at Le Cordon Bleu—humbly the No. 1 culinary school in the country. Since then, she’s been creating healthy, gourmet-yet-doable recipes (like thisCaprese quinoa bake), and we can’t get enough. Oh, and she’s insanely funny too.

Few things are more disappointing than finding what seems like the perfect recipe only to click and learn that it has more than 20 ingredients, several of which you’ve never heard of. Minimalist Baker keeps it real by sticking to 10 ingredients or less and limiting cook time to 30 minutes tops (hence the minimalist title). But trust us: Their recipes are far from boring! From baked falafel burgers to chocolate chip oatmeal cookie pancakes tochipotle tofu chilaquiles, the culinary duo (John and Kate) really know how to pack tons of flavor into simple and oh-so-delicious dishes.

Whether you eat Paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, or none of the above, the recipes on this site will meet your dietary needs—and most definitely satisfy your palate. Taste aside, blogger Julia Mueller is also passionate about nutrition, which comes as no surprise when looking at her creations with a health-conscious microscope. And her photography is pretty impressive too! Broccoli salad and cauliflower fried rice has never looked (or tasted) so damn good.

It can be difficult to make vegan versions of classic creations like mac and cheese and pizza, but that doesn’t mean we should throw in the towel and stick to the likes of roasted veggies and salads (though both are delicious vegan meal options). Blogger and author Kathy Patalsky agrees, which is why she’s created hundreds of beautiful and nutritious vegan recipes that taste like a million bucks (and not like chewy or chalky meat- and cheese-free vegan nightmares). Though some of her dishes can be a bit more complicated to make, there are plenty of options that even the most novice chef can master. We’re huge fans of her sweet mango avocado toast, creamy Alfredo pasta (which is arguably easier than boxed mac and cheese), and vegan chocolate taco shake—and those don’t even scratch the surface of what she’s capable of!

Food and Nutrition

Breaking down scientific research and the language in studies can be tough, and staying on top of health news can be equally as difficult—and time-consuming. Examine.com not only helps us stay in the know, but it also presents information in a way everyone can understand and relate to (like the unbiased truth about marijuana or the 10 biggest nutrition myths). Bonus: The blog covers everything you need to know aboutsupplements so you don’t splurge on supposed wondervitamins that you’ll end up peeing out (and reaping none of the “benefits”).

Don’t worry: Just because the blog has “politics” in it doesn’t mean it bombards readers with incessant information about how democrats and republicans are feuding—again. Instead, scientist and nutritionist Marion Nestle, Ph.D., M.P.H., shares important (and super interesting) food news like the future of chocolate and her musings on the free swag at the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics’ annual meeting. Sure, politics is a prevalent theme, but Nestle hand-picks the good stuff and shares it in a way that’s much more stimulating than the latest study release. Sign us up!

It takes an insanely clever chef to bake a four-star dessert in less than 10 minutes—and on top of that, make it easy enough to teach novice cooks how to do too! Such is the genius of Mark Bittman, trend setter,New York Times journalist, bestselling author, and the brains behind hundreds of gorgeous and healthy recipes, which are prominently featured on his insightful website along with excerpts from his Times column. Gotta appreciate a man whose philosophy on healthy eating includes cheddar waffles with bacon maple syrup.

NPR is far more than an entertaining and informative collection of radio programs. It’s actually expanded a lot since it was founded in 1970—including the creation of The Salt, a food blog that covers everything from news to the science behind chocolate chip cookies to nitty-gritty health studies. If you’re looking to subscribe to the crème-de-la-crème of fun food info, this is it. After all, they did introduce us to the first ever Ketchup ‘n’ Fries plant—possibly our favorite creation to date.

We’ve all fallen for classic health myths. Sweetening recipes with agave makes them good for you, right? Well, not exactly. Authority Nutrition not only debunks the junk, but it’s also a great source for nutritional information you won’t find on many other sites—like the science behind why low-carb diets actually work. The best part: Everything is science-backed and easy to understand, meaning your eyes won’t glaze over while reading overly complicated statistics and medical jargon.

Healthy Living

If you’re at all curious about that Paleo diet thing you may have heard about, Mark’s Daily Apple has you covered. But it goes way beyond just living like a caveman. Mark Sisson, creator of The Primal Blueprint lifestyle, also posts about how a calorie isn’t a calorie, why everyone should have a morning routine, weight regain, and so much more. Plus, each week he answers readers’ questions, making it feel like he’s right there with you, every step of the healthy way.

While MindBodyGreen is a bit lacking on the scientific evidence for some advice and claims, we still love perusing it for its well-rounded approach to living a healthy lifestyle. With a balance of news and trends (like the latest on the juice and smoothie debate), fitness tips (push-up variations), and posts that make you stop and rethink your day-to-day (like why you should stop listening to your mind and follow your heart), there’s always something useful to read.

Although Matt Frazier is vegetarian, his No Meat Athlete posts are filled with substance to help readers sustain a healthy lifestyle. From tips to find life balance todelicious smoothie recipes to reasons why scary goals are the best goals, the plant-eating enthusiast provides the tools for anyone—even meat eaters—to find the diet and lifestyle that works best for them while staying motivated to pound the pavement.

Q is every bit as fit and fab as Equinox, the gym it represents—and even if you can’t afford the membership fees, you can enjoy their great content. You’ll find expertfitness tips and fascinating videos (we still can’t get overthe treadmill one from 2013), as you might expect, and there’s also nutrition advice plus lighter lifestyle content—who knew leg warmers were back?

Registered dietitian Anne Mauney’s journey from cubicle to nutrition counselor is an inspirational tale that got us hooked on her vibe and belief in intuitive eating, taking advantage of happiness-enhancing life experiences, and working hard to reach our running goals. Though sponsored posts on fANNEestic Food can seem a bit abundant at times, we love that she eats like a human—pizza, Girl Scout cookies, ice cream. Nothing is completely off limits. That’s our kind of R.D.

While her target audience may be slightly older, Wellness Mama is still worth reading for millennials. She dishes out the hacks for health and home, from makingDIY laundry detergent and makeup to turning mismatched socks into hand warmers. Just keep in mind that she’s not an expert, so while she does cite sources for some health tips, not all of them are 100-percent proven.

Quit dieting and start cultivating healthy habits you actually enjoy, Darya Rose says. The neuroscientist and Summer Tomato blogger knows chronic dieting sucks and provides actionable takeaways to help you find a “healthstyle” (a term we’re a bit sad we didn’t come up with first). We love her realistic take on weight loss, inspiring success stories, and weekly roundups of the latest nutrition news too.

Happiness and Wellness

In a world filled with constant distractions (we know the willpower required to not check Facebook right now), Leo Babauta has written the book on what it means do less and be more present. But you don’t have to run out to the nearest bookstore, you can check out Babuata’s musings on his site, Zen Habits. In just a few years, Zen Habits has become the go-to blog on healthy habits and minimalism with popular posts on the savor disciplineand the simple way to find your real source of contentment.

Lots of focus is spent on exercising our bodies, but what about our minds? That’s where Mentality WOD comes in. Taking a cue from CrossFit’s workout of the day, this site publishes quick and actionable workouts to improve your thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. Want to be more confident? List 10 reasons that you will achieve the goals you’ve set, ask friends to add to the list, and then read the list every day. The blog’s founder, Dawn Fletcher, is a firm believer that improved mentality will lead to better performance, whether it be in the workplace or on the playing field.

Some of us need a cup of coffee to get our day started. For others, a few asanas do the trick. Daily Cup of Yoga is for those who prefer the latter. It’s a blog written by casual yogis without the typical yoga-heavy jargon and teachings. Instead, the posts touch on topics like mastering meditation and showing gratitude in your everyday life.

Sometimes life can feel like a never-ending struggle bus, from problems at work, with our friends, and even ourfamily. Tiny Buddha is a blog (and a vibrant social community) where bloggers share helpful advice to deal with life’s most difficult situations. But Tiny Buddha doesn’t just focus on those downer topics. It also celebrates happiness, love, and mindfulness (and how you can achieve those things in your life).

TED Talks are inspiring, motivating, and above all else, teach us new things. The TED Blog does the same thing. In addition to sharing talks that are guaranteed to keep you glued to the screen (like these ones that are racier than 50 Shades of Grey), the blog also includes posts designed to make you smarter and better informed, from a comprehensive reading list to apps that make life so much easier.

On the surface, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus had it all: good jobs, big homes, tons of gadgets, and enough discretionary income to always have a good time. But as they approached their 30th birthdays, they realized their 70-hour work week left them short on one important thing: room. We’re not talking about room in the literal sense, but rather room for growth, contentment, and chasing passions. So they took a 21-day journey toward minimalism and blogged about it. They attracted such a following that they’ve been blogging (and spreading the minimalist gospel) ever since.

Health

Yoni Freedhoff, M.D., director of the Bariatric Medical Institute, doesn’t let anything slide on Weighty Matters. He’s called out the Better Food for All campaign for giving shady tips, the media for misinterpreting a recentchocolate milk study, and one blogger for his take onsoda taxes. But he’s not all about revealing the truth about everything related to obesity and healthy eating. He also shares weekly funny videos and has even givenCoca-Cola kudos.

This new blog from the people at MyFitnessPalcombines two of our favorite things: food and fitness. The blog is another way to grow the already impressively engaged MyFitnessPal community, by sharing delicious healthy meals (hello, pork and spinach pot stickers) and easy and effective exercises (this no-equipment living room workout has our name all over it). Our favorite posts are the video workouts, which include tons of helpful tips to make sure you’re doing every move correctly.

It’s not surprising that a game-changing fitness company like Precision Nutrition would put together such a top-notch blog. We’re regularly blown away by the blog’s infographics that answer questions we all ask, like “Should you exercise when sick?” and “How do you fix a broken diet?” Most posts are written by John Berardi, Ph.D., one of the company’s co-founders, and are chock-full of straight-talking, actionable advice.

This doctor-turned-health-editor flexes some serious writing muscle (and sometimes even his biceps—gotta give the people what they want) over at The Atlantic. In a world where health stories are full of medical jargon, Hamblin writes in a way that non-experts can understand. Basically, when we’re getting confused about the latest health trends (What’s up with herbal supplements? Why are there so many options for cold medicine?), he’s the person we turn to. And we love that no topic seems to be too daunting for him to cover, from the Food Babe to female orgasms.

We live in a digital age where information gets thrown at you from every angle—by everything. Science of Us feels you, which is why it sticks to short health articles (we’re talking only a few paragraphs) with information that’s as concise as it gets. If you’re looking for a go-to place that sticks to the good stuff and gives it to you fast, this is the spot. And it’s written in the fun, witty New Yorkmagazine tone we’ve always loved, meaning you’ll actually want to read every piece, from our conception of the sexes to why you’re better at karaoke than you think. How many health sites can say that?

Chris Kresser has been studying and teaching alternative medicine for more than 15 years. He’s also the author of bestselling novel Your Personal Paleo Code and is often cited in notable publications like The Atlantic and NPR. So just what is it that makes Kresser so freakin’ awesome? We love that he frequently cites published studies (though he also discusses their flaws) and is all about empowering you to make healthier choices—ones that work for you (and your budget). He also creates amazing Paleo-friendly recipes like taro and bacon hash.

Sometimes the best recipes are the stupid-easy ones. And sometimes the best advice comes in the form of hard-hitting truth bombs instead of sugarcoated tidbits that don’t truly get you motivated. If those thoughts resonate with you, then Steph Gaudreau at Stupid Easy Paleo is the gal to provide a much-needed healthy kick in the butt. From nutritious, Paleo-friendly recipes (we’re obsessed with her plantain protein pancakes) to workout advice to food photography tips, she’s all about hacking your way to a healthy lifestyle—and doesn’t leave room for excuses. Though she’s not an expert in every area she writes about, her nutrition and science backgrounds are prevalent in all of her articles. Her philosophy may be stupid-easy, but she’s anything but stupid.